der  Chinese

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/tʃiˈneːzə/

🌏 What does 'der Chinese' mean?

The noun der Chinese refers to a male person who comes from China or holds Chinese citizenship.

• Gender: Masculine
• Article: der
• Feminine form: die Chinesin

🚨 Note: While 'der Chinese' / 'die Chinesin' are the standard German terms for people from China, in modern usage, it's often considered more sensitive and precise to say 'Person aus China' (person from China) or 'chinesische Person' (Chinese person), especially when nationality isn't the main focus.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar in Detail: Der Chinese

'Der Chinese' is a masculine noun belonging to the n-declension (N-Deklination), also known as weak declension. This means it takes the ending -n in the genitive, dative, and accusative cases in the singular, as well as throughout the plural.

Declension Singular

Declension Plural

📝 Example Sentences

1. Der Chinese, den ich traf, spricht gut Deutsch.
   (The Chinese man I met speaks good German.)
2. Das ist das Auto des Chinesen.
   (That is the car of the Chinese man.)
3. Ich helfe dem Chinesen.
   (I am helping the Chinese man.)
4. Siehst du den Chinesen dort drüben?
   (Do you see the Chinese man over there?)
5. Die Chinesen feiern heute Neujahr.
   (The Chinese people are celebrating New Year today.)

🗣️ When to use 'der Chinese'

The term der Chinese is used specifically to refer to a male person from China.

• Contexts: In discussions about nationalities, origins, travel, international relations, culture.
• Formality: Generally neutral, but depending on context and intonation, it can sound dated or generalizing. When in doubt, alternatives like 'ein Mann aus China' (a man from China) are often a good choice.
• Distinction: It's important to distinguish it from the adjective chinesisch (e.g., chinesisches Essen - Chinese food, die chinesische Sprache - the Chinese language) and the feminine form die Chinesin.

⚠️ Caution: Avoid generalizations. Not every person who looks East Asian is Chinese. Speak respectfully and precisely about origin and nationality.

🧠 Memory Aids

Article 'der': Remember it refers to a male person. 'Der Mann' (the man) helps you remember der Chinese.

Meaning: The word sounds very similar to the country China. A Chinese comes from China.

N-Declension: Imagine a polite Chinese man always adding an 'n' when declining (except nominative singular). He's the 'nicen Chinesen'.

↔️ Similar & Opposite Words

⚠️ Potential Confusion

• Chinese (m) vs. Chinesin (f): Pay attention to gender.
• Chinese (noun) vs. chinesisch (adjective): 'Der Chinese' is a person, 'chinesisch' describes something (e.g., chinesisches Essen - Chinese food).
• Chinese vs. Asiate/Ostasiate: 'Asiate' (Asian) or 'Ostasiate' (East Asian) are broader geographical terms and not synonymous with 'Chinese'.

😂 A Little Laugh

Kellner: "Möchten Sie Stäbchen zum Essen?" Gast: "Nein danke, ich zahle bar."

Waiter: "Would you like chopsticks (Stäbchen) with your meal?" Guest: "No thank you, I'll pay cash (bar)." (Plays on the word 'Stäbchen' which sounds a bit like 'stäbchenweise zahlen' - to pay in installments, though 'bar zahlen' means pay cash).

📜 Rhyme Time

Ein Mann aus Beijing oder Shanghai,
Der Chinese, ist oft dabei.
Mit Tee und Lächeln, sehr adrett,
Trifft man ihn oft im Internet.

A man from Beijing or Shanghai,
The Chinese man, is often nearby.
With tea and smiles, quite neat,
You often meet him on the internet street.

❓ Brain Teaser

Ich baute eine große Mauer,
Meine Dynastien hatten Macht und Dauer.
Ich schenke der Welt Porzellan und Tee,
Ein Mann aus meinem Land heißt wie?
Mit Artikel, bitte sehr!

Lösung/Solution: der Chinese

(I built a great wall,
My dynasties had power and duration.
I give the world porcelain and tea,
A man from my country is called what?
With the article, please!)

💡 Interesting Facts

• Word Origin: The German word 'Chinese' derives directly from the country name 'China'. The origin of 'China' itself isn't fully clear but is often traced back to the Qin dynasty.
• Language vs. Person: German clearly distinguishes: der Chinese (person, male), die Chinesin (person, female), das Chinesisch or Chinesisch (the language/language family).
• N-Declension Feature: Masculine nouns ending in -e that refer to living beings (often nationalities or professions) frequently belong to the n-declension (e.g., der Junge - the boy, der Kunde - the customer, der Russe - the Russian man, der Franzose - the French man). 'Der Chinese' fits this pattern.